Thursday, October 28, 2010

Etsy...How We Love Thee...

So, dear readers,

Let's play a game. It's called...What's My Favorite Thing to Do While I Drink My Coffee in The Morning? For those of you who said "Eat a big slice of chocolate cake leftover from the night before", you may quietly keep the truth to yourself. For those of you who said "Check Etsy because there is something new on there every minute and you might miss something amazing!"-you would be correct. Candice and I are Etsy addicts. And the best part? They have a wedding highlight category. For all the brides who can't stand the thought of a veil, check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/UntamedPetals. They have a beautiful variety of head bands, fascinators, and flowers that will wow you every time. For those of you who need a vessel to hold your rings as your adorable (and ALWAYS well behaved!) nephew walks down the aisle, check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/palomasnest. She makes sweet bowls imprinted with sayings such as "Be Glad for This Moment" and "To Have and To Hold". They even have tiny ties. And think-now your rings have a safe haven atop your dresser. Love it! And from the same seller, check out the wooden bangles that can be custom imprinted with anything at all. I'm thinking bridesmaids gifts, ladies. Perhaps the one word that describes each one best? The city in which you met her? I could go on... And here is my last and final fave for the time being. Just Married Banners. Totally underutilized ladies! Hold it for a few pictures with your groom, hold it for a few pics with your entire wedding party behind you. Hang it on the front of your couples table. And please, please, please...politely ask your ever willing bridal attendants to give it a quick tie to the back of your getaway vehicle. (I hope you bought them those fabulous bangles!) Check out http://www.etsy.com/shop/victorianstation as a great source.

We're sure you will enjoy it as much as we do! Happy Planning!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Vendor Highlight - Blooms




So I'm sure that you all are as amazed with these beautiful images as we are. We are just loving Cara Ewald from Blooms, located in Bridgeport.  All that she does-from flowers, to linens to invitations, is fresh and modern. (Are you noticing a theme yet?) We have met Kara on several occasions at wedding shows, and we were just blown away by the flowers she did for a wedding at Lambert's Winery in Weston, WV. Cara started in the floral industry four years ago in Pittsburgh, Pa. Since moving to West Virginia, she has expanded her business to include linen and chair cover rentals, as well as invitations and planning services. Currently located at 103 W. Main Street in Bridgeport, Cara will soon be expanding to a larger location in order to accommodate a larger inventory, meeting space and a space for developing tablescapes and concepts. Those planning events will be able to set tables with a variety of linens and centerpieces to gain a visual image of what their wedding day will really look like.
Cara can will accept up to three weddings per day, depending on the size of the event. For the coming year, 5 dates are already reserved and her calendar is filling up. While some of Cara's favorite event spaces are Lakeview Resort, StoneWall Jackson Resort, the Waterfront, and Hotel Morgan, her designs are showcased around the state. Stop in to be amazed and inspired by her creativity-we always are!
Blooms Florist
Cara Ewald
103 W. Main Street
Bridgeport, WV 26330
(304) 842-3639





Sunday, October 3, 2010

West Virginia Farm Wedding

The girls at Sweet Water are more than just owners-we, as brides, were in the same position four years ago. On Thursday, September 30, my husband and I celebrated our four year anniversary on a cold, rainy day. A rainy day that was an exact recreation of our wedding. Think monsoon. A cold, arctic monsoon. Some of my guests later confessed that they threw their shoes in the trash rather than scrape the mud off of them. Choosing to be married outside on a farm under a tent at the end of September was a risk, but it was one that represented us as a couple. The wedding process is insanity. Stressful, emotional, beautiful insanity. We built our wedding from the ground up because we wanted to be under the changing leaves, down the road from the home in which I grew up. The chairs, tables, dance floor, and every petal on every flower was carted in just for us. And the food? The biggest risk that we took was perhaps the greatest delight. I met Beth through a friend when she came over to teach us how to cook. We bought the groceries and paid her in wine, and she taught us how to sear fish, roast vegetables and make a blood orange vinaigrette. I was in love. Because I knew she had catering experience, and because her passion for food mirrored my own (I once drove to Philadelphia for macaroni and cheese. It was from Delilah's. It was made in front of you. And it was GOOD). I hired Beth on the spot. Risky? Yes. But I knew if it fell through and we ordered 120 pizzas, I would be just as happy on my wedding day. As it turned out, Beth hand pickled crates of vegetables in my kitchen the week before the wedding. She made a macaroni and cheese that I would drive to Los Angeles for. She made the marinade that the shrimp, steak and chicken were prepared with. We saved money, even after hiring wait staff to serve this delicious spread, but we most appreciated showcasing someone's skill and passion in a way that made our day even more special. And more delicious!